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History and Timeline

The Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come.

Honoring the Past. Transforming the Future.

Exciting times are on the horizon as we celebrate our 125th anniversary. We're working to achieve the ambitious goal of a 100 percent renewable energy future for Hawaii. To do this, we're transforming the way we do business and the way we provide service to our customers. But our company is no stranger to change. As we look to our past, we're reminded about the obstacles we've overcome and the milestones we've reached. We're not going through our first transformation – and it won't be our last. But together, we'll make changes that will make positive impacts on our customers of today and future generations.

Our history is filled with wonderful success stories. Our future will be filled with so many more.

Hawaiian Electric establishes service to the windward side of Oahu by stringing an 11,000 volt line over the Pali to service a wireless telegraph company at Heeia in 1914.

The legislature grants Hawaiian Electric the right to supply power to the entire island in 1915.

Hawaiian Electric's King Street building opened for business on July 25, 1927.

Hawaiian Electric begins construction on a new 11 kV line (with provision to change to 44 kV in five years) spanning seven miles through Kalihi Valley, over the Koolau range and down the Windward slope to the Koolau switching station in 1933.

As Japanese war planes strafe the Waiau Power Plant at Pearl Harbor with machine gun fire, 13 workers stay at their posts to safely shut down the plant in 1941. The plant's log book records, "The plant is under attack - secured everything." Later, power plants are painted in camouflage and reinforced with steel and concrete.

Signed contract with Kalaeloa Partners to build and operate a 180-megawatt combined cycle plant at Campbell Industrial Park, 1988.

Hawaiian Electric contracts for the first time with three independent power producers in 1989: The Honolulu Program of Waste Energy Recovery (H-Power), Kalaeloa Partners L.P., and Applied Energy Services, Barbers Point, Inc. (AES).

Maui Electric acquires Molokai Electric Company in 1989.

Hawaiian Electric celebrates 100 years of service to Hawaii in 1991.

The first 69 kV transmission lines to carry geothermal power to the Hawaii Electric Light grid are completed in 1991.

Hawaiian Electric is presented with the Good Neighbor Award from the American Red Cross, 2000.

Hawaiian Electric is named Aloha United Way's Corporation of the Year, 2001.

Hawaii's Renewable Portfolio Standard is enacted into law (Act 272) in 2001 setting renewable energy targets of 7 percent by 2003, 8 percent by 2005 and 9 percent by the end of 2010. Net Energy Metering program for rooftop solar customers is established.

American Lung Association awards Hawaiian Electric with the Mauli Ola (Breath of Life) award for environmentally responsible operation of our power plants in 2003.

Hawaiian Electric is recognized as the 2004 business leader for "Commitment to the Community" by Pacific Business News.

In 2006, Hawaiian Electric celebrated the 10th year anniversary of the Energy$olutions program with the installation of its 30,000th solar water heating system. The program paid over $62 million in rebates to homes and businesses that have installed energy efficient equipment which translates to a savings of more than 586 million kilowatthours per year or 970,000 barrels of oil.

In 2008, the Hawaiian Electric Companies and the state of Hawaii sign a comprehensive agreement as part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative that creates a goal for the state to meet 70 percent of its electricity and ground transportation needs from clean energy sources by 2030.

Eighty two of Hawaii Electric Light's diesel fleet vehicles complete the switch from straight diesel to a more environmentally-friendly biodiesel mix in 2008.

Hawaiian Electric's Energy$olutions energy efficiency programs are transferred to the Public Utilities Commission's third-party administrator in 2009. During the 13 years they were administered by the Hawaiian Electric Companies, the programs:

Installed more than 1.8 million CFLs, more than 50,000 solar water heating systems, and more than 39,000 Energy Star appliances;

Reduced electricity demand by 169-MW, equal to the output of a large power plant;

Paid $97 million in rebate and other incentives and saved customers more than $640 million over the life of their energy efficiency equipment;